Sekaikei Genre
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"I don't know why, I have no idea, but quite possibly the single most important thing in the history of the universe is that I get you sorted out right now."
—The Doctor, Doctor Who, "Flesh and Stone"
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Sekaikei (sekai meaning "world", and kei meaning "type") is a Japanese term that is not clearly defined, spread primarily through the Internet but with some professional interest (there's even been academic lectures). The simple definition of a Sekaikei story is there is a male character and a female character and their relationship is the sole driving force of the events.
The difficulty of putting the phrase into trope terms is that it is fairly controversial amongst anime fans and quite frankly ill defined. It is "World type"- it's not quite so much the character relationships, not so much the plot but more the perspective of the world that comes out of such a story.
It can go something like this:
- Starts with very normal regular life. Then the central character, the boy, gets involved to The Apocalypse situation.
- The boy meets the girl who fights to avoid the World's End; the girl fights but the boy doesn't.
- There is little description of interlevel elements between the couple and the collapsing world, such as their local community or their families. The relationship between 'You and I' --the boy and the girl—is directly connected to 'jumbo world'.
- In the climax of the story, the boy is forced to choose between 'die for love' or 'peace and safety in the world'.
The thing is a little bit nuts. How nuts? They have to write the word in different systems in the middle of the phrase. Sekai is written with katakana while kei is written with a Chinese character. The world perspective isn't just the one of the story but also of the otaku who follow it.
Compare Apocalypse Maiden, when the choice is between the girl or the world. Compare Barrier Maiden, which the girl is likely to be an example of.
Anime and Manga
- Haruhi Suzumiya has the titular character as a Reality Warper who unknowingly controls the world and so everybody else around her has to keep her happy. Most of this falls upon the narrator, Kyon.
- Neon Genesis Evangelion is believed to be a prototype of this concept.
- Saikano deconstructs the living hell out of this setup. Chise is an ultimate weapon in a war and how she decides to fight (if at all) depends on her boyfriend, Shuuji.
- This Ugly Yet Beautiful World
- Kannazuki no Miko, with the twist that the relationship is between two such girls.
- Voices of a Distant Star
- Chobits: Chi has an ambiguous ability that has untold horrible effects and it hinges on Hideki deciding on whether or not he wants to romantically be with her.
- Earth Maiden Arjuna
- Change 123
- Shakugan no Shana
- The Ga-Rei manga toss the role of "boy" and "girl" like volleyballs, but eventually it's between Kagura and Yomi.
- Blue Drop, a human girl and an alien girl.
Manhwa
Video Games
- Xenogears. And it's glorious!
- The second Drakengard game.